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Wednesday, March 6, 2019

Sanef Outraged and Shocked By the Actions of EFF Leader and Its Supporters against Veteran Journalist Karima Brown

JOHANNESBURG: The
South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) condemns the systemic,
abusive and cruel social media attack levelled against Talk Show Host
and veteran journalist Karima Brown over the last 24 hours by Economic
Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema and his supporters.

Malema
published the cell phone number of Brown and shortly thereafter his
supporters began a barrage of insults against her – calling her among
other derogatory names “an Indian whore and bitch” and levelling
insults, threatening her life, and accusing her of allegedly sending
moles to spy on them. This after Brown accidently posted a message on an
EFF What’s App group. The message was meant for a Journalist group
instead.

Sanef calls on the EFF leadership to stop with this vicious attack on the
media and allow journalists to do their work without fear and
intimidation. The attacks on women in media in particular and the abuse
levelled against them is contrary to the spirit of wanting to protect
women in a country where violence against women has reached pandemic
levels.

The organisation also reminds Malema that when his personal details were published on
twitter - SANEF condemned it, just as they condemn his actions to put out
Brown’s telephone number.

They further noted that the unwarranted attacks on Brown are similar to the
previous attacks by the EFF and its supporters on women journalists – a
matter that SANEF has placed before the equality courts.

Sanef said that if
the EFF leadership has evidence and/or concerns about Brown or any
other member of the media they must deal with this in the correct forum
including the Broadcasting Complaints Commission for Radio and
Television and online or the Press Ombudsman/Council for Print and
Online. From a SANEF position there is empirical evidence to show that
when senior party leaders and politicians muzzle journalists, their
supporters follow in their footsteps.

"This
attack on Brown is a clear example of the attack on media freedom. Our
purpose as a non-profit association is to advance ethical and quality
journalism – a critical component of media freedom and access to
information as enshrined in our constitution.

"We call on Julius Malema and the entire EFF leadership to apologise to Karima Brown.

SANEF
will continue to champion the cause of independent journalism, to
support journalists under threat in our own country and abroad, and to
support the deepening of our democracy," reads a statement released by Sanef on Wednesday.

SANEF
lodged a complaint in the Equality Court, late last year against the
Economic Freedom Fighters following a barrage of abusive and dangerous
threats against journalists in South Africa. SANEF approached the court
in defense of media freedom and seeking protection of journalists
against sustained intimidation and threats against journalists by Julius
Malema and his supporters.

SANEF
is concerned that attacks against journalists are escalating and calls
on political parties and those elected to lead not to use journalists as
pawns in their political infighting and/ or to cover up corruption. In
the run up to the elections highly contested hot-spots often pose a
threat to the safety of journalists.

"We
appeal to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) to monitor these
transgressions against the media and educate political parties on the
Electoral Act that allows for media to operate in a free and fair
environment," reads other parts of the statement.

SANEF
has rolled out elections workshops in all nine provinces focusing on
elections coverage, ethics and how to deal with disinformation campaigns
against them.